Brand Name(s)

Haldol

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not receive this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to haloperidol, or if you have Parkinson's disease. This medicine should not be given to patients with severe brain disease.

How to Use This Medicine

Injectable

Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using lithium (Eskalith®, Lithane®, Lithobid®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), a blood thinner (such as phenindione), or medicine for Parkinson's disease (such as carbidopa, levodopa, or Sinemet®).

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using medicine for heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, Betapace®, Cordarone®, Norpace®, Quinaglute®, or Tikosyn®) or medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, Dilantin®, Luminal®, or Tegretol®).

Tell your doctor if you are using any medicines that make you sleepy. These include sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicine, narcotic pain relievers, and sedatives.

Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, mania, thyroid problems, or a history of prolactin-dependent breast cancer, seizures, or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Your doctor needs to know if you have any kind of heart or blood vessel problems, including blood pressure problems, heart rhythm problems (such as QT prolongation), or a mineral imbalance (such as low potassium or magnesium in the blood).

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medicine, including heart failure or pneumonia. This medicine is not used to treat behavioral problems in older adults with dementia.

Tardive dyskinesia (a movement disorder) may occur and may not go away after you stop using the medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while receiving this medicine: lip smacking or puckering, puffing of the cheeks, rapid or worm-like movements of the tongue, uncontrolled chewing movements, or uncontrolled movements of the arms and legs.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while using this medicine: convulsions (seizures), difficulty with breathing, a fast heartbeat, a high fever, high or low blood pressure, increased sweating, loss of bladder control, severe muscle stiffness, unusually pale skin, or tiredness. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

This medicine will make you sweat less, causing your body temperature to increase. Use extra care not to become overheated during exercise or hot weather while you are using this medicine, since overheating may result in heat stroke. Also, hot baths or saunas may make you feel dizzy or faint while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. You may also feel lightheaded when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position, so stand up slowly.

This medicine lowers the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. To help with these problems, avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Jerky muscle movement you cannot control (often in your face, tongue, or jaw).

Lightheadedness or fainting.

Painful, prolonged erection of your penis.

Problems with vision, speech, balance, or walking.

Seeing or hearing things which are not there.

Seizures or tremors.

Trouble breathing or swallowing.

Trouble with swallowing or talking, sticking out of the tongue, or spasm of the neck muscles.

Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control in the tongue, face, neck, jaw, or eyes.

Unexplained fever or muscle stiffness.

Unusual facial expressions.

Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.

Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Breast pain or swelling.

Drowsiness, depression, or headache.

Dry mouth.

Hair loss.

Irregular menstrual periods.

Loss of appetite.

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, or stomach upset.

Skin rash, soreness, or pain at the injection site.

Trouble having sex.

Trouble sleeping, restlessness.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Version Info

Last Reviewed on 06/12/2013

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